Author's Note: The first part is as if it is read like a summary from a book, there is no real character perspective. It differs from my usual style, so I thought I'd warn you, to avoid confusion. I'll let you get to it! -Foxinstrazt

Epilogue, Part II

-Days Gone By-

From the pages of 'Chronicles of the Savage Winter: An Account of the Winter Wars'

When the mangled body of King Hans was discovered in the docks of a Coronan slum, the entire kingdom of the Southern Isles descended into a frenzy driven by lust for power. For centuries, the Westergard line had ruled over the Isles with an iron fist, demanding absolute loyalty in return for the prosperity of the kingdom, and that line was ended in the course of a single year. From the Dukes that ruled swathes of land to minor noblemen who had little more than a title to their name, all stepped forward with a rightful claim to the throne.

All vied for power within the borders of the country, and the throne sat empty as all disagreed on the rites of succession. Yet all agreed upon one simple virtue, a concept that had stood as a tradition within the southern kingdom stretching back generations; Vengeance would be delivered upon the slayers of the previous ruling family. Blades that were pointed between the nobles suddenly found themselves pointed outward, to the other realms of the world. But even on this uniting cry for blood, the Islanders could not agree. Some blamed the Savage Queen of Arendelle for the fall of the Westergards, but she had not been seen for months, having abdicated her throne to the former Marshal of her armies.

Others set their eyes upon Corona, as the body of their latest king had been discovered there, and whispers told of an assassin seen leaving for the coastal kingdom after the vicious death of King Everard. Eventually, this too fell into madness. With no clear target, the Isles forced war upon the various regions that surrounded their once-proud kingdom. Relations between the world were still strained following a massacre during a Solstice Celebration in Arendelle, and what should have been a united front became an embroiled pit of kingdoms all biting at each other.

Even the northernmost territories could not escape what would later be called 'The Winter Wars', as the duchy of Weselton began its bid for power, attacking and consolidating other powers near its own. Within months, all the world was at war with each other and themselves, with far too many different factions for a clean and clear victory to be had. All but Arendelle, which staunchly defended its coast while refraining from offensive action. Under the guidance of the new ruler, King Caesten Forthing, the mountainous kingdom remained strong and distanced from the fighting.

For three years, three long years, the conflict dragged on. What had once started as a disagreement between nobles had escalated into an era of bloodshed and steel. Kingdoms that had stood for a thousand years were reduced to rubble, and the common folk the world over spent their days in fear that their lives would be tragically cut short. Despair claimed as many victims as the sword, and it was from this dark time that hope emerged once again.

Rumors began in the north, telling of an army being raised that accepted all peoples, regardless of kingdom or creed. Unlike the other factions, the leaders of this band did not fight for power. Word spread throughout the realms of how villages were spared from a marauding enemy by these mysterious, unsung heroes. From those who were saved, a legend grew. It told of a beautiful warrior woman, with wild hair the color of fire, who led this army that fought only for good and a dream of peace. Her identity was wildly speculated, but none truly knew who she was.

Even more strange was the talk of the sorceress that fought at the warrior's side, a woman with long, flowing blonde hair that many believed was the fabled Knight of Spades; a knight who was known to be dead. Thus the legend grew even larger, telling of the resurrected Valkyrie, adorned in silver armor and sent by the Gods themselves to bring salvation to a doomed world. With the rumors, their numbers grew, and in time they brought the fight to those who had created or continued the conflict since its conception.

It was this group, this army that many dared only whisper about 'round the fires at night, that brought the tyrants to their knees. They asked for no thanks, placing themselves as a shield between the innocent and the butchers, emerging victorious from every battlefield. There was no banner, no lord they served, and those they left in their wake were freed from the vicious control the previous rulers had enacted upon the land. There would never be a proper name for the renegades led by the sorceress and the warrior, but all would agree that it was their coming that changed the tides of fate. Hope blossomed in the hearts of people across the world, and petty disputes that had been ignited by the wars slowly burned away.

The final battle took place where the disagreements had been born, within the very halls inside the Palace of the Unyielding, and it ended with the renegades leveling the ancient structure to ensure victory. That last act marked the end of the mysterious group that had come together, the last record of their actions. Disbanded upon the completion of their goal, the various members returned to their homelands to rebuild. From the ashes and rubble of previous nations arose a new generation of kings and queens, who carved out fresh borders in this new world and provided well for those who lived within those lines. Though barbarism still existed in some lands, The Winter Wars officially ended thirteen years after they began, and those that had brought peace disappeared as quickly as they had come, their mission completed.

Many tavern hearths played home to bards that sung of the sorceress and the warrior, but each teller of the tale had their own ending, though patterns within them did exist. Some claimed the women returned to the heavens, the Gods' desires met. Others dismissed them as a product of propaganda, created to be a symbol of hope to a world that had forgotten how to face a new dawn. More still believed that they walked among the people they had saved, living the life of peace they had fought for so long to achieve. Alleged sightings of these unknown heroes would confound scholars for the next several years, until many gave up their pursuit of the legends.

All that was known was all that would ever be known: Two women, said to be lovers by many of those who witnessed them together, stood against the darkness of a world at war with itself..

And prevailed.

Throne Room, Radiance Castle

Fourteen Years after the Reclamation of the Throne

Kairi turned the last page until it joined the others, then followed it with the leather back of the tome that sat in her lap. She let out a small chuckle as she flipped the book over and ran a hand over its cover, and the words emblazoned upon it. Titled 'Chronicles of the Savage Winter', it amused her to read an account of events she had in large part witnessed told as if they were fables from the days of old. Though it held descriptions of the violence that had occurred over the years, it could not accurately capture the adrenaline and horror that had gripped her in the moments of pure savagery.

Even now, her memories could not give the moments justice. They could not hold that level of emotion that had flowed through every fiber of her being when she had been in the most dangerous of situations with the most loyal of friends. There had been a righteous fury during the wars, an indignation that burned in every soul at what the leaders of the world had wrought. It was a harsh time, to be sure, but a part of her yearned to feel the heat of battle once again. She had not been there to fight alongside them when it had truly mattered most.

"Momma?" The voice, quiet as a pin drop, drew her gaze upwards. Before her sat a young boy, one who had taken after his father in the matter of features. Blond hair that spiked in a dozen different directions sat upon his head, the strands all but refusing to be styled any differently. Wide eyes showed clear blue irises, their shade matching that of a summer sky, and both of them narrowed in concern. "What is wrong? You look sad."

Reaching forward to gently run a hand through the boy's hair, she felt the grin that always took hold when she focused upon her child stretch over her lips. "It is nothing, dear." Returning her hand to the spine of the large tome she had been reading from, she moved the book to the armrest of the throne she sat upon.

Risen from the rug that he had taken residence on while she had relayed the story told within the book to him, the young boy was now standing against her leg, his youthful features expressing the doubt that he held for her dismissal of his concern. After a long moment, his mind turned to other matters, and wonderment replaced all else upon his face. "The Sorceress and the Warrior.. Did they live happily ever after?"

"Well.." Kairi raked a row of teeth against the soft pad of her bottom lip as she thought, finding herself unequipped to answer such a question. Thankfully she was saved from the waiting boy by the opening of the doors to the hall, the heavy oaken portal swinging open to admit the newcomers. As if summoned by the discussion of their exploits, the two women who had been the subject of conversation joined them. A smile found its way to her lips as she observed both of them, the wandering souls who had finally returned to her. "You will have to ask them yourselves."

Excitement boiled tenfold within the limbs of the small boy as he wriggled from his mother's lap, sprinting across the throne room while crying out. "Auntie Elsa! Auntie Anna!" From where she sat, Kairi could see both clearly, and her first impression was one of relief. The redheaded sister looked much the same as the last time they had gathered, two years ago, her leather cuirass adorned with the gray fur of a mountain wolf. Chainmail links that were woven into the chest of the armor were no longer bent and showing signs of wear, having been replaced by newly forged metal that shone in the sunlight that filtered through the high windows of the hall.

Brown trousers complimented the toned legs of the younger of the two sisters, stitched leather that was covered to the knee by furred boots that were tied to cover the feet in both a comfortable and warm fashion. Attached to the belt present on the slender waist were two old weapons, both of their blades showing their years of use as they swung with each step. One was a wicked looking axe, its serrated edge slapping against a thigh in time with the swagger of hips. The other was a short sword, sheathed haphazardly through a loop, its wired hilt home to a resting hand kept the blade in check. Pulled back into a loose ponytail that fell down her back, Anna's hair had remained close to the same shade of fire that it had always been, although it showed more red as the years went by.

Of the two, Elsa showed the most change that had come with age and war. Her platinum hair was styled in the same braid she had always preferred, bouncing as the woman bent to scoop up the boy that was running towards her. Blonde bangs were slicked back over the top of her head, aside from one unruly grouping that fell and framed the right side of her face. Eyes that lay between the shades of arctic ice and the winter sky were wide as the small child slammed into her frame, carrying far more weight than he had the last time they had visited.

But the beautiful features had not endured the decade of war without incident. Even against the pale skin of the older woman, the stark white of scars could be seen. One in particular was more prominent among the rest, traveling from the middle of a forehead and across the bridge of the blonde's nose to end on the opposite cheek. What should have been disfiguring had only seemed to lend the magic-wielding soldier a more vicious aspect, one that was now lessened with the wide smile that broke apart thin pink lips.

A hand covered by a fingerless glove ran over the back of the boy that was held aloft in powerful arms, the criss-cross scarring of battle evident upon those limbs as well. Above that glove was a steel shoulder plate that had been forged to carry an elegant flourish, its shine telling of a recent polish, and the darkened leather of the straps showing signs of oil. Covering Elsa's chest was a cuirass of similar make to the one she had worn during the various wars Kairi had fought by her side, its metal shining a brilliant silver in the midday light, and its face engraved with swirling lines that covered every inch of its surface except for one bare area that lay over the middle of her chest. Formed by an absence of other shapes, the symbol of a spade was borne proudly upon the armor.

Wrapped about the slender waist of the blonde was a silken sash, its color boasting a royal blue that faded into a bright turquoise near the knot that led to its excess length drifting near the blackened leather of her trousers. Boots were held tight to her legs by half of a dozen straps that buckled across the leather, running down the length of each limb. Armored pads were secured over her knees as well, betraying no movement as the woman walked toward the throne, her free hand pushing away the searching fingers of the boy she held in her arms. "You know better than to grab at my sword, Leon."

The boy, fixated upon the wrapped hilt of the blade that was sheathed across Elsa's back, was relentless in his pursuit of one of the fabled weapons he had just been told a story of by his mother. Leon's sky blue eyes quickly found their way to the redheaded woman who walked beside her sister. "What about Auntie Anna's axe?"

To her credit, the youngest of the woman present did not show a single sign of wear at the child's pestering, chuckling and shaking her head. "When you are older." Looking away from the boy, Kairi was the next object of the aqua orbs, and grinned when their gazes met. Rising from the throne and moving forward, she abandoned all pretense of decorum as she gathered the other redhead in her arms and they met one another in a tight embrace. "Sorry we are late, the festival in Mekrinon went on longer than Matthias let on, and was far more enjoyable than we expected."

"You both are welcome here whenever you happen to wander by, you know that." Giving the younger woman a playful wink as she released her, she felt a sudden surge of melancholy as the line of thought led into a memory. "Though your delay did cause you to miss Vayl."

Setting Leon upon the ground before the boy could land a hold on the sword, Elsa rose with a concerned expression marring her features. "I thought she would be waiting for us, what has happened?"

"Patrick passed away a fortnight ago, and she left for Arendelle only moments after we received word. It was said he died peacefully while he slept, but she feels that she should not waste time before ascending to her father's position." Explaining what had befallen their friend and compatriot brought a pang of loss to Kairi's heart as she spoke, causing her to raise a hand to her breast in response. "She did express a desire to have you both present when she issues him the last rites."

"As much as I love seeing my darling nephew." Always one to change the tone of a conversation to a more upbeat topic, Anna chimed in with a sly question that practically dripped of common humor. "Where is your dashing King?"

Feeling her lips turn upwards, she marveled at the effect the redhead held on the sad topic, brushing it away in a moments notice in order to keep the young boy from catching on. "Sora journeyed to Arendelle only a few days ago, to work out the finer points of the alliance between your homeland and Radiance with Caesten."

"An alliance?" It was Elsa's turn to wear a playful smirk. "Radiance has taken its first step toward becoming a true kingdom then. If you and Sora continue as such, you will both be remembered in the history books."

"Not as well as you, I think." Reaching back to the throne, she pulled forth the heavy tome that largely chronicled the life of the two sisters that stood before her, wearing a wide grin as she watched both pairs of eyes widen.

Elsa was the first to recover from the shock, taking it from her hands and flipping through the pages as quickly as she could. After a long moment of perusing the archive of her own adventures, the blonde let out a dismissive scoff. "I am willing to bet that half of it is wildly embellished."

"Auntie Anna!" Leon drew attention back to him by tugging at the hand of the redheaded woman he stood by, bouncing on the balls of his feet excitedly. "Is it really true that you fought Prince Kristoff and his army by yourself?"

A grin broke out from ear to ear upon Anna's face as she listened to the boy's question, her nose wrinkling as she bent to address the young prince with a wild look in her eyes. "You had better believe that I did!"

"No, Leon." Still turning the pages of the book with a detached expression upon her face, Elsa was the one who answered truthfully. "She had an army too."

"Elsa!"

Anna's whine was accompanied by a huff from the blond boy who clutched desperately to his aunt's hand, glaring up at Elsa with a tiny frown evident on his face. "I believe she did, so she did!"

Kairi shared in a laugh with the other two grown ups as Anna led the boy away to regal him with a fanciful tale of how she singlehandedly delivered Arendelle from the Southern occupation, leaving her alone with the blonde woman who finished her light reading and closed the tome with a audible thump, icy blue eyes flashing up to meet her gaze. "Are you sure he should be learning of such things?"

"He is ten." Standing by what she was attempting to teach her son, Kairi drew herself up to as great a height as she could manage wearing only simple boots, failing to match the other woman's height. "And this world is not the same as the on we grew up in."

"True enough."

The concession surprised her, as did the way the other woman's expression softened. Taking it as an invitation, she pushed away the hand that was gripping the large book and pulled the blonde into a fierce hug, speaking only when her lips were near an ear. "I have missed you, Elsa. Are you staying long?"

She could feel the way the nearby cheek moved into a grin, and the other knight took a steadying breath before pulling away. "I suppose we will press on to Arendelle, if Anna wishes it. It seems in our old age that our paths are not fated to cross as much as they used to, no?"

Chuckling quietly, she let her gaze drift past the woman before her to where the other redhead played with her son. "We are not that old, yet. You will just have to come back after you finish your business there."

Elsa stood in the middle of the room that Kairi had afforded them, a large space lavished adorned with the finest of furniture. The construction of the keep had only been completed within the last year, to the best of her knowledge, but already it had set the foundation for what she thought would blossom into one of the greatest castles the world had ever seen. Her old friend had done a fine job since becoming Queen of the land where Corona had once sat, uniting a scattered people in the wake of a devastating war.

Night had fallen some hours ago, and a cool breeze meandered in through the open balcony, causing the light fabric of her shirt to ripple in the wind as she watched her lover through the doors. Anna was leaning upon the railing, gazing dreamily towards the stars, seemingly unaware of the effect her half-naked form was having upon her older sister. Elsa smirked as she strode forward, wrapping her hands about the bare stomach before her and pulling the redhead close. Through the thin fabric that separated their skin, she could feel the uneven bumps that signaled another scar that had been marked upon the younger woman's body, mindlessly counting more than a dozen reminders of war before stopping herself.

More than her own efforts, it was the gentle purr that pulled her from her dreaded thoughts. Pressing her cheek against the freckled counterpart near it, she looked towards the heavens that her lover had been studying a moment earlier. "What occupies your mind?" Her words broke the soft silence, but did not stop the smile that formed over the others lips.

Instead Anna simply dropped her view towards the town that had grown twice in size since their last visit, leaning back into her as she spoke up. "I believe it is time to go back home.. It has been years since we've seen Caesten, and I wish to pay respects to Patrick's grave. I owe him more than I will ever have the chance to repay." Nodding gently, Elsa used her hold to turn the other until they were facing, keeping quiet as she did. "Do you agree?"

"I do." Letting out a light chuckle, she touched their foreheads together and whispered her next words. "You know I will follow you anywhere."

"I know.." Anna leaned into the embrace, bringing their lips closer together until she moved hers upwards, pressing them softly against the scar that crossed diagonally over the older woman's face, drawing a light giggle from the blonde as she did. "I love you, Elsa."

Raising a hand to brush against a constellation of freckles, Elsa maneuvered her sister's face back down until she could press a gentle kiss into the soft lips that awaited her, savoring the taste that came from her lover as she did. It was not simply the kiss shared between two lovers, but the one that sparked between two halves of a soul that locked together for a single moment in time. It was an examination of the pulse that ran through veins, of the fire that could be ignited within a person, and it contained all that even the greatest of bards could not hope to capture in song. Brimming with passion and yet settled in comfort, it lasted far too short for her liking as she pulled back a minute inch to let out a shuddering breath, letting her icy blue eyes meet the orbs that held the hue of the ocean. "And my heart beats only for you, my love."

The End

Author's Note: I hope that was up to your expectations, as leaving a definite ending is not really my strong suit. This story has been a thrill to write, and my friend is happy with how it turned out!(Her girlfriend less so..She really wanted Elsa to stay dead. Shrug) You guys have absolutely been the best readers ever, and I cannot truly express my gratitude in words. I'll be honest though: I'm burnt out on the world and tone of Chronicles, I want to do something different. Some ideas I've been tossing around are a Final Fantasy fic or another Frozen one in the vein of Nolan's gritty superhero style. Who knows? Those of you who are fans of my Last of Us fic: I will probably not be going straight to Ties That Bind, I am so not into reality-based fics right now. Sorry! Also, if any of you plan to write your own fics, I received a PM that asked something interesting and has prompted me to do something new.. If you want to use my characters or settings from this story, I will allow it if you ask me first! Seriously think it would be cool to see someone else take the Elsa or Anna I created and run with it. Or if someone wanted to tackle the Winter Wars and fill in the blanks with their own, that'd be a fun read(to me, at least!). Anywho, drop a review with your thoughts on the ending, or shoot me a PM, I love 'em both! Thank you all, it has been a pleasure! - Fox

I'll stop the storm if it rains
I'll light a path far from here
I'll make your fear melt away
And the world we know disappear

- "The Gift" by Angels & Airwaves

-Epitaph to the Fallen-

King Arinos – The King of Arendelle – Shipwrecked off the coast of Corona

Queen Melody – The Queen of Arendelle – Shipwrecked off the coast of Corona

Olaf – Coronan Street Urchin – Casualty of the War with Mekrinon

King Draos – The King of Mekrinon – Killed by Elsa in the War with Mekrinon

Gerda – Handmaiden to the Queen – Killed during the Arendelle Coup

Sven – Royal Guardian to Prince Kristoff – Killed by Elsa during the Arendelle Coup

Kai – Manservant to the Royal Family – Killed during the Arendelle Coup

Prince Eugene – Prince-Consort of Corona – Killed during the Arendelle Coup

Lord Nacen – Guard-Captain of Arendelle – Executed by Prince Hans

Nik – Servant to the Royal Family – Killed by Kairi in Gendavik

Rat – Gendavik Street Thief – Killed during Kairi's escape from Gendavik

Stefan – Royal Guardian to Prince Hans – Killed by Anna outside of Gendavik

Lord Meeran – Lord of Gendavik – Killed by Anna during the Liberation of Gendavik

Regent-Lord Kristoff – Prince of the Southern Isles, Regent-Lord of Arendelle – Killed by Anna during the Liberation of Arendelle

King Everard – King of the Southern Isles – Assassinated by Kainge on Prince Hans' order

Duke Harvey – Duke of Weselton – Assassinated by Kainge on Prince Hans' order

Kainge – Hans' Assassin – Conquered by the resurgence of Elsa's consciousness

Sir Koldred – First Knight of Corona – Killed by Kairi during the Escape from Corona

King Hans – King of the Southern Isles, Prince-Consort of Corona – Killed by Elsa during the Escape from Corona

King Driscoll – King of Corona – Killed during the conflict of The Winter Wars

Queen Gail – Queen of Corona – Killed during the conflict of The Winter Wars

Patrick – Elder of the Fjallafólk – Died of old age

A tribute to the countless and nameless soldiers, thugs, and guards that were harmed in the writing of this story.